56 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



In other words, Ben Davis outnumbers all the varieties previ- 

 ously named in the recent orchard plantings of nearly every state. 

 In Maine and Vermont the drift toward Ben Davis is especially 

 pronounced ; while even in Massachusetts, it is rapidly gaining 

 on Baldwin. 



So much for Ben Davis. Now let us examine more closely 

 what he stands for. It is perfectly plain, of course, that all the 

 discussion which has been going on in the horticultural papers 

 and the various spirited arguments which take place in the vari- 

 ous horticultural meetings are not drawn out by the merits or 

 the demerits of Ben Davis alone. There is something back of 

 him. He is simply the fellow who stands up in front and takes 

 all the knocks. 



The fact is, Ben Davis stands for an entire class. He stands, 

 first, for a certain group of apples such as Stark, Gano, and 

 Beach, and others. All these apples are remarkable for many 

 things, but none of them is prized for quality. There are many 

 other fruits which are successful market sorts but which are at 

 the same time of inferior flavor and not really satisfactory to 

 the fastidious horticultural palate. 



The question is thus a question of quality. In fact the whole 

 argument in which Ben Davis figures so prominently is the plea 

 of quality vs. looks, and the simple question is whether or not 

 it is ever advisable to grow a vigorous, thrifty fruit which is 

 short in this one point of quality. That is the plain, simple 

 issue. It is, in fact, the sharpest and most critical issue ever 

 discussed in the horticultural forum. It is a question of funda- 

 mental importance and of wide reaching application. We need 

 not be surprised, therefore, that it comes up for warm discussion 

 in every horticultural meeting, and we can well give our time 

 today to the consideration of this broad, general, fundamental, 

 serious and far reaching question for which the Ben Davis apple 

 stands. 



When we propose a solution for this question we shall find 

 it best to lay aside for a short time the merits of Ben Davis itself, 

 and to proceed to a consideration of certain other factors which 

 greatly influence our conclusion. The first important matter to 

 which I would direct your attention is this : that there are two 

 fundamentally different markets in America or in Europe to 

 which we send our fruits. The one is the general, open, whole- 



